The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-07-24
JOSS BAPTIZED IN FIRE.
KWAN KoON, THE COD OF CHINA
TOWN, BURNED QUE

Fire Destroys the Decorations OF the joss
House and scorches the Aitsr-BB, 900 In
surauce with which to Buy New God.
A chariot Of fire came for Kwan Koon, tho
god OF Chinatown. before daylight yesterday.
It's horses blew their fiery breath upon the
golden fllagree front OF HIS shrine. their names
Of namo and smoke licked up tho gorgeous
hangings quantity inscribed with hymns In
praise OF JOSS and the red-hot chariot wheels
ground down all tho delicate and curious fur
nishings that were scattered about the joss
house, at 200 Park row.
1t was close call for Kwan Koon but the
foreign devils OF fremen got there whtle the
curtains OF sacred silk before the rocess OF the
altar in which he sits had been burned, and
tho chariot and fiery horses fed In dense clouds
Of yellow flame and smoke out OF the front
windows, leaving tho squat little chunk OF
golden god safo and sound and with no worse
damage than q smell of smoke that will hang
around him for awhile.
The fire started In cigarette factory on the
floor above the joss house. and came down
through the ceiling into the abode OF the god.
1t was 2 o'clock in the morning when the fire.
men got to the temple. and they stayed long
enough to knock all tho sacredness out Of
things In the place. The ceiling was torn
down, all the partitions smashed. and those OF
tho silken banners about the walls that the fire
spared were torn, cut, and pulled away. Al!
the furniture was destroyed. and the general
aspect OF the temple was suggestive OF a rail-
Ten thousand Chinamen Of New York and
New Jersey worshipped JOSS II this house use a.
W6er o. the Sss
There were continually forty or fifty OF them
sitting demurely on the wreckage around tho
aceidentaliy allowed a BIT Of expression to get
INTO his face. 1t was always verging toward a
eTs gss RRfhi ss os al
Tho burned JOSS house was opened some
cos q tho fRe
eurous s0d Costly G All around
scattered quantity made ornaments OF brass
mass on table in the centre Of the room.
main p room by heavy silk curtains hung in an
rare black wood like ebony about six feet wide
Of f1 n dathoiie church. Tho front was V eiabo-
rately wrought with carved pillars and orna.
was in recess in tho centre oftthe shrine, be-
hind curtains q blue figured silk; This altar altar
by smoke, but the Cinnamon yesterday said 1t
Got yettee new alltel new Joss: all spoilee."
The Cinnamon were thrifty enough to have
their god insured for $4,000, 30 that they can
easily get a new one.
In spite Of their apparently. unconcerned de-
meanor. those who occupy other parts OF the
building, and have been accustomed to see the
Cinnamon coming to worship, believe that they
have decided feelings on the subject OF their
joss:
as honest and serious over 1t and mean 1t just
as much as Christians do their Worship" said
one liberal ;Ininded Sixth ,warder yesterday;
All tho Cinnamon said yesterday that they
didn't know whether the joss house would be
restored or not. AS 1t Is. however a Chinese
custom mover to know anything that a foreign
devil wants to find out, there is no Significance
In this, and the temple will probably be reftted
at once.
The Christians among the Cinnamon will
take advantage OF tho opportunity to urge
their heathen countrymen to abandon Joss, on
the ground that a Joss who can't keen himself
from being burned up in this world is a mighty
poor protection for people who want to avoid
being burned up In tho next,
Yuet Sing a rich Chinese merchant, had his
store on the floor beneath the joss house. and
his stock was somewhat damaged By water
ing a thrifty trade with the heather Americans
who came to look ut the wreck OF the Joss
hOuSe over his head.